Things We Sent Off For

[pjmburns]

We had several Readicut rugs when I was growing up. A semi circular one by the fire. A rectangular one in the bedroom. I remember Dad making one.

 

[sospiri]

Elmdon Boy,

I certainly remember them, but we didn't ever buy any. My late wife was in the sewing game, both as a trade and as a hobby, and would generally make her own. Several businesses that she made customers' curtains for gave her discounts on other items, so on that basis Readicut's prices probably wouldn't have been competitive.

Maurice

 

[mw0njm.]

Both my mother and grandmother made these rag rugs with a hessian backing, frequently from clothes the various members of the family had grown out of, and very good they were too. I think Dad's workplace was the source of hessian as many raw materials for pen & stationery manufacture came in such bags.

Maurice

hi. maurice.never seen a rag rug,dad bought wool.and used some sort of tool to push it through. they when finished they were smashing by our beds. all we had was oil cloth on the floor.

 

[pjmburns]

Readicut rugs were wool and a special tool so it could have been those.

 

[sospiri]

Pete,

I remember oilcloth, cold to your bare feet in winter, but if you had any old stuff, it was good for getting the Guy Fawkes Night bonfire going!

Maurice

 

[mw0njm.]

yes. maurice. when i mode in here there was a loft with some on the floor,so i took it up and burned it at the top of amy garden.wow did it smoke i had to get the hosepipe out,before the man come knocking lol

 

[Radiorails]

Pete,

I remember oilcloth, cold to your bare feet in winter, but if you had any old stuff, it was good for getting the Guy Fawkes Night bonfire going!

Maurice

Oilcloth (for floors) was known as 'canvas' in SW England. There was, in the 1960's, a cheap version and a slightly more expensive (heavier weight) version. Linoleum - in various qualities was used principally in offices, factories and anywhere getting heavy use and requiring a long life.
There was also the light oilcloth used on tables, especially where children, or messy eaters, abounded.
The 'messy eaters' comment reminded me of Nora Batty, when in yesterdays Last of the Summer Wine she said, "unless they slash it around a bit, I never think they are enjoying it" In my days that usually meant a slapped wrist or similar, or even sent out of the room.

 

[mw0njm.]

thanks for the input.

 

[mw0njm.]

i think it is time to get rid of some of the stuff. i keep buying on ebay.

 

[sospiri]

I hope that was a joke, Pete, and it was a picture of your local landfill site!

I used to sell old postcards on there 17 years ago and have only bought two cameras in that time. The other half buys clothes and sometimes books, but that's about it. eBAY has certainly gone down over the years.

Maurice

 

[I Am Nico]

Dad sent off for this Electricians' kit with Condor Tobbacco. I am unable to download it as it says the file is too big but I have found it invaluable like yesterday I repaired my specs using one of the fine screwdrivers. It also contains fuses, fuse wire and a little box you put wires in for lamps. And it still smells of his tobbacco.

 

[I Am Nico]

i think it is time to get rid of some of the stuff. i keep buying on ebay.

Nearly as bad as ma in law's cellar 4 years on I can see the floor now. She never threw anything away, nothing. She even kept the grandchildrens' nappies. Clean ones.

 

[Smudger]

I was tired of getting sand kicked in my face, so i thought i`d send off for the Charles Atlas brochure. My mate said "don`t be daft, the girls like us skinny kids, they think we look neglected & hungry & want to look after us" I have to say he may have been right. I was far from handsome but i went out with some really gorgeous girls Sadly i`m still far from handsome & no longer qualify as skinny!! Long live Cadburys

 

[mw0njm.]

I was tired of getting sand kicked in my face, so i thought i`d send off for the Charles Atlas brochure. My mate said "don`t be daft, the girls like us skinny kids, they think we look neglected & hungry & want to look after us" I have to say he may have been right. I was far from handsome but i went out with some really gorgeous girls Sadly i`m still far from handsome & no longer qualify as skinny!! Long live Cadburys

i looked hungry and neglected and i still do lol

 

[JohnO]

These rugs were a version (which cost money of course) of the old style rag rugs. Scraps of material (from old cloths and similar) were used and sewn into a hessian backing. Hessian (or some other backing) could be bought but often scrounged which meant they cost nothing to make - other than time. I believe you can buy kits to make them but that defeats the frugal (cheapskate) idea. They were a good makeshift for many during WW2.

Prog-rugs, aka clippy-mats and rag-rugs, are still made here in Northumberland. There are evening classes and ‘progging circles’ - everything from basic mats to complex art-works. Twenty eight years ago I bought three such rugs (still going strong) for just a few pounds; whereas they now cost an arm and a leg!

 

[mw0njm.]

I sent for something out of The Daily Mirror a while back and the next thing I knew I was put on this mens only Porn list and what came through the post shocked even me.:shocked::shocked: It took a while for me to be removed from this list so in between I passed this on to Ed Doolan to complain and next thing I heard his heart problem started up again but I am sure it was not because of that?. Those were the days when radio WM had their action desk and sorted your problems out for you.

It must have been bad to shock You Jean.